Oakland Raiders vs Jacksonvile Jaguars: Raiders' Winners and Losers

As Oakland Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer put it, this battle of 1-4 teams was a must-win game. While it wasn't the most dominant of victories, it's still a win. Now that the dust has settled, let's take a look at this week's Raiders winners and losers:

Winners

QB Carson Palmer

The Oakland Raider quarterback had an OK game stat-wise (26-of-46 298 yards 1 touchdown). While he did turn the ball over twice (on an interception and fumble), I’ll give it to Palmer; he’s a baller. He insisted on going for it on a fourth-quarter fourth down, which resulted in a first-down 24-yard pass interference penalty on Jacksonville’s Aaron Ross.

One play later, Palmer is head-first into the end zone for a game-tying touchdown. Not a fantastic game out of Carson Palmer, but a gutsy one.

WR Rod Streater

The young Raider wide receiver had only two catches this game for 41 yards. But wow, they were great catches! In the fourth quarter, Streater stretched out and caught a high Carson Palmer pass for 13 yards, then snagged another pass for 23 yards that led to a game-tying field goal.

K Sebastian Janikowski

While he did miss a record-breaking field goal from 64 yards to win the game with six seconds left (which is his only miss of the season), he did make up for it with the game-winner in OT. Sebastian Janikowski once again coming through in the clutch.

A huge game for Lamar Houston today (5 tackles, 3 assists, 1 sack), but more importantly, he forced a fumble from Jaguars wide receiver Cecil Shorts III in OT that Joselio Hanson then recovered at the Jacksonville 21. Houston’s strip of the ball saved the day for the Oakland Raiders.

Losers

Offensive Coordinator Gregg Knapp

If there ever was a time where the Raiders run game would finally come together, it should have been against the Jacksonville Jaguars defense, which has given up 163 rushing yards per game this season.

Instead, we saw more of the same from Knapp’s zone-blocking run scheme. Knapp’s offense could only muster 69 total rushing yards against a defense that has given up 815 total yards (163 average per game). This game, to me, proves that Knapp’s system is not working for this Oakland Raiders team.

Special Teams

Special teams coach Steve Hoffman’s squad had a rough second quarter. His team missed a surprise onside kick in the second quarter which led to a Jaguars recovery, and returner Philip Adams fumbled on the 16-yard line, which led to a Jennings touchdown run up the middle.

Raider Discipline: Penalties

Oakland once again showed that it fares much better when playing in games that are officiated with replacement referees. Oakland was flagged nine times for 58 yards:

Penalty: False Start on Oakland (Jon Condo), minus-five yards.

Penalty: Offside on Oakland (ChristoBilukidin), minus-five yards.

Penalty: Encroachment on Oakland (Matt Shaughnessy), five yards.

Penalty: Offside on Oakland (Tommy Kelly), five yards.

Penalty: Holding on Oakland (Mike Mitchell), minus-10 yards.

Penalty: Holding on Oakland (CoyeFrancies), minus-eight yards.

Penalty: Delay of Game on Oakland (Carson Palmer), minus-five yards.

Penalty: Pass Interference on Oakland (Owen Schmitt), minus-10 yards.

Penalty: False Start on Oakland (Mike Brisiel), minus-five yards

It may sound like a broken record, but Oakland needs to cut down on the boneheaded penalties.

All in all, a much-needed win that keeps the Oakland Raiders in the AFC West playoff hunt!